Editors' Review

Bandizip creates archived files in various formats. It can open and extract these files for you as well.

Pros

Customization options: When you first install Bandizip, a window opens, asking you which file types you'd like to associate with the program. You can make your selections by checking or unchecking the boxes next to the various options, or you can simply go with the defaults that are already set. You can also go back and adjust your choices at any time.

Clean interface: The interface is clear, so you shouldn't have any trouble figuring out how to use the various features available. There is also a good Help file to refer to, if you do have questions or get stuck on something.

Cons

Few bugs: We did encounter a few minor issues during testing, including some unclear instructions for how to encrypt a file. There is a step missing, and without taking that step, you won't be able to enter a password for the selected file. The options didn't automatically show up in the finder's right-click menu, making it a slightly more complicated process to open a compressed file or create a new one with the app.

Bottom Line

Bandizip is a free utility, and it's a powerful option for carrying out all kinds of processes with various compressed file formats. While we did encounter a few minor issues during testing, the program performed well overall, and it offers a nice set of options for customizing your user experience.

Publisher's Description

+

From Bandisoft:
Bandizip is ultra-fast file compression software with an easy-to-use interface. It allows you to create your own compressed files such as ZIP, 7Z, TAR, ISO and extract most popular compressed files like RAR. Bandizip can create Zip, ZipX, TAR, TGZ, LZH, ISO, 7Z, EXE and open RAR, ACE, AES, ALZ, APK, ARJ, BH, BIN, BZ, BZ2, CAB, EGG, GZ, J2J, JAR, IMG, IPA, ISZ, LHA, LZMA, PMA, TBZ, TBZ2, TGZ, TLZ, TXZ, UDF, WAR, WIM, XPI, XZ, and Z archives files. This program is able to create split compression files as Zip (zip, z01, z02, 7z.001), Zipx (zipx, zx01, zx02), 7Z (7z.001, 7z.002) and EXE (exe, e01, e02) to certain size, such as 25MB or 700MB. It also can extract the split RAR files (.part1.rar, .part2.rar) created by WinRAR. Bandizip uses the AES-256 encryption which is one of the most secure encryption algorithms when creating the 7z or zipx file format. An archive compressed with Bandizip can be extracted using all kinds of file compression software including WinZip, WinRAR, 7-Zip. Bandizip allows the users to preview compressed contents with right click menu on the Windows Explore. In addition, Users directly see an image file contained in compressed ZIP, RAR, 7Z, LZH or TAR files without extracting. Another advantage of Bandizip is that it fully supports Unicode to ensure international characters are displayed for filenames in archives. Non-English characters such as Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, etc. will be handled properly and it will be extracted without breaking the original filenames.

What's new in this version:

Version 5.15 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.

1. Fast ( almost 2 times than other )
2. Free ( coporation, personal, all )

Cons

1. 'solid' is forced with 7z
2. make error with split-files
3. cpu usage is too heavy and roll
4. not support AES256bit encrypt with ZIP
5. developer hate Alzip in public ( because of Reverse Engineering about alz & egg of Alzip )
6. program is alwayes developed with open-print of other program ( maby copycat of 7-zip... ;)

This guy named 'Heaye' has been known as a troller in South Korea.
He trolled around lots of people with useless comments on a well-written article comparing file compressing applications.
Reference: Lots of comments on http://www.kbench.com/?q=node%2F157825 (South Korea PC community; You may not understand it, sorry.)

I have Windows7 32-bit and 64-bit computers. I have PKZIP for Windows and I also tried free zipping and unzipping programs because I found them confusing. Bandizip is the program I found easieat to use. I should say, I zip only when I want to email a small folder so my uses are very simple.

Overall, this software is a very great alternative to winRAR and 7-zip. I found it had more options than winRAR for compression, better interface and can easily code the page. AND IT IS 100% FREE!!!!!! I say that is the best file archiving software ever.

In Windows 7, when logged in as administrator user account (good practice when running installers) and install Bandizip, it installs only for the admin user account. When another standard user account on the PC tries to use Bandizip. there is no right-click Bandizip context menu from Windows Explorer. That context menu exists only for the admin account.

Bandizip developers are aware of this and don't see it as a problem. Their forum reply:"Sorry. Bandizip supports only "current user" and no plan to support "all users".(It is intended to avoid problems with UAC.)"

This is very strange. Clearly they expect that only Windows admin accounts would want to use this. They really should learn how to install properly for Windows 7 multiple accounts, just like most software.

Summary

This needs to be improved to install properly to PCs with multiple user accounts, as per Microsoft recommendations.

Maybe they've changed their policy in the 12 months since you wrote your review? I've just installed it on a multiple user machine with XP. It does try to install in the admin account but there is an option to change this for a different destination. I put it in Program Files and it works just fine for both users.

E-mail This Review

Thank You, !

Report Offensive Content

If you believe this comment is offensive or violates the CNET's Site Terms of Use, you can report it below (this will not automatically remove the comment). Once reported, our staff will be notified and the comment will be reviewed.